Microsoft Corp. is planning to reissue the Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 Update rollup that it first launched in late June.

While the company did not specify a reason for the planned reissue, a number of Windows 2000 users who have installed the download have complained of a variety of problems, ranging from incompatibility with third-party security applications to network-printing issues. Windows 2000 is still the operating system of choice for a number of businesses, especially those in the small and midsize business space, according to industry watchers. Microsoft ended mainstream support for Windows 2000 client and server on June 30.

Right before cutting the non-paid support cord, Microsoft issued the Windows 2000 rollup of more than 50 patches and fixes in lieu of a Service Pack 5 update. The Rollup includes security- and nonsecurity-specific updates for Windows 2000 issued between the release of Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 in November 2003 and April 30, 2005.

A Microsoft spokesperson said Microsoft is planning to roll all of the hotfixes it has issued for the Rollup into the re-released version and make it available via the Microsoft Download Center and Windows Update sites. While there is no specific date available for the re-launch, Microsoft recently posted a note to its Web site noting its intentions.

"We plan to reissue Update Rollup 1 for Windows 2000 SP4 soon. Several hotfixes will be integrated into the new version of Update Rollup 1 for Windows 2000 SP4," the company said on the Windows 2000 Rollup Web page.

On its Web page, Microsoft says the problems with the Rollup are "isolated" and "affect few customers." The company is advising users who have experienced problems to not install the Windows 2000 Rollup until the corresponding hotfixes for specific problems are available and/or until it re-releases the updated Rollup.